What does 'staccato' mean?

The term 'staccato' refers specifically to a style of playing or singing that involves producing notes in a short and detached manner. When musicians perform staccato, they articulate each note distinctly, allowing a brief silence or separation between them, which creates a crisp and clear sound. This technique is commonly notated in sheet music with a dot above or below the note, signaling to the performer to execute the notes with this detached character.

In contrast, the other choices reflect different musical techniques. Playing notes smoothly corresponds to a legato style, where notes are connected without gaps. A loud manner of playing pertains to dynamics and could relate to terms like 'forte,' while playing with a strong accent involves emphasizing specific notes, characteristic of articulation styles but differing from the staccato approach. Thus, the correct choice highlights the unique quality of staccato, distinguishing it from other playing techniques.